GGH2601
Assignment 1
Semester 1
Due 31 March 2026
, Question 1
Assume the role of a convenor of a presidential task team and discuss mitigation
strategies specifically tailored for your country to combat the impacts of climate
change.
(Country focus: South Africa)
Introduction
As convenor of a Presidential Climate Change Task Team, this response presents
mitigation strategies tailored to South Africa’s unique environmental and socio-
economic realities. South Africa is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the
Global South due to increasing droughts, extreme flooding, and high dependence on
fossil fuels (DEFF, 2019; IPCC, 2022). Although the country contributes roughly 1% of
global greenhouse gas emissions, it experiences disproportionate climate risks,
especially in water security, food production, and urban infrastructure (IEA, 2021).
Effective mitigation therefore requires an integrated strategy that reduces emissions
while strengthening resilience across energy, water, agriculture, and urban systems.
Energy Transition and Decarbonisation
The energy sector represents South Africa’s largest emissions source, with coal
accounting for nearly 80% of electricity generation (IEA, 2021). A central mitigation
priority is accelerating the transition to renewable energy. The Integrated Resource Plan
(IRP 2019) already provides a policy foundation for expanding solar, wind, and gas
while gradually decommissioning coal plants (DMRE, 2019). However, implementation
has been slow, largely due to regulatory constraints and infrastructure limitations.
Scaling renewable procurement through programmes such as the Renewable Energy
Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) can significantly
reduce emissions while creating jobs (Eberhard et al., 2014). Expanding private
generation and embedded municipal energy systems will also reduce pressure on the
Assignment 1
Semester 1
Due 31 March 2026
, Question 1
Assume the role of a convenor of a presidential task team and discuss mitigation
strategies specifically tailored for your country to combat the impacts of climate
change.
(Country focus: South Africa)
Introduction
As convenor of a Presidential Climate Change Task Team, this response presents
mitigation strategies tailored to South Africa’s unique environmental and socio-
economic realities. South Africa is among the most climate-vulnerable countries in the
Global South due to increasing droughts, extreme flooding, and high dependence on
fossil fuels (DEFF, 2019; IPCC, 2022). Although the country contributes roughly 1% of
global greenhouse gas emissions, it experiences disproportionate climate risks,
especially in water security, food production, and urban infrastructure (IEA, 2021).
Effective mitigation therefore requires an integrated strategy that reduces emissions
while strengthening resilience across energy, water, agriculture, and urban systems.
Energy Transition and Decarbonisation
The energy sector represents South Africa’s largest emissions source, with coal
accounting for nearly 80% of electricity generation (IEA, 2021). A central mitigation
priority is accelerating the transition to renewable energy. The Integrated Resource Plan
(IRP 2019) already provides a policy foundation for expanding solar, wind, and gas
while gradually decommissioning coal plants (DMRE, 2019). However, implementation
has been slow, largely due to regulatory constraints and infrastructure limitations.
Scaling renewable procurement through programmes such as the Renewable Energy
Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) can significantly
reduce emissions while creating jobs (Eberhard et al., 2014). Expanding private
generation and embedded municipal energy systems will also reduce pressure on the
